Stop motion mechanism



March 5,1940. R W H 2,192,319

STOP MOTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

RG55 L. Emith ATTORN EYS.

March 5, 1940. R. L. SMITH STOP MOTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9.

FIG. 8.

INVENTOR. Ross L. Elm-Nib.

ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1940. R SMITH 2,192,819

- STOP MOTION MECHANISM Filed Jan. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 12.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in stop motion mechanism particularly well adapted for use upon high speed printing presses.

The primary object of the invention is the provisionof means to stop the operation of high speed newspaper printing presses when a tear occurs in the web; the movement stopping mechanism being of a nature which will readily adapt itself to various directions and positions of movement of the web.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved mercury switch operated stop motion mechanism. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description. r

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the assemblage of the improved stop motion mechanism over a web supporting roller of a high speed printing press.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, and in dotted lines showing the various positions and directions of movements which the web may assume in the press.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved detector.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is; an end elevation of the hub of the detector finger.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken 40 through the mercury switch construction and the end bearing of the shaft on which the detector construction is mounted.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 7 and showing the 45 mercury switch in circuit closing position.

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 but showing the mercury switch in a circuit opening position.

Figure 10 is an end View of the mercury switch and shaft supporting construction shown in Figure '7.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the mercury switch tube supporting case.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line |2-l2 of Figure 1 and more particularly showingan end support for the detector mounting shaft.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line |3-I 3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 12 but 5 showing the detector shaft in position with the switch off.

Figure 15 is a view of the switch control member in the switch throw-off position, such as it will assume while the press is being re-threaded. 10

Figure 16 is a view of the inside surface of the detector shaft control member.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally 15 designate a high speed printing press, thru which the paper web B moves in the usual manner. The improved stop motion mechanism 0 is associated therewith.

The printing press A may be of the high speed type, upon which webs of various widths may be accommodated. As is shown in Figure 1 the press may accommodate a four-page web strip. These pages are designated at 20, 28, 22, and 23. The folding margins are designated at 26 and 21 and the margin 28 at the center of the web is the 25 cutting margin where the double pages are severed.

The pressA includes the frame 3!! having the web supporting shaft 3| rotatably mounted thereon, and overwhich the web Bmay pass in 30 horizontal position, as shown inthe full lines in Figure 2, or in the inclined positions as shown at 32 and 33 in Figure 2. The web B may be moved in either direction thru the press.

The stop motion mechanism C comprises a 35 squared shaft mounted on the frame 30 of the printing press at one end by a combination bearing and mercury switch construction M, and at the opposite end on the frame 30 by a combination switch position limiting and bearing con- 40 struction 42; I

The shaft 40 is mounted by the bearing constructions 4| and 42 horizontally over the web supporting roller 3|. It is preferably polygonal or squared in cross section and supports the detector mechanism 44 which is adjustable therealong and also reversible at either side of the. shaft.

It will of course be understood that the stop motion detector construction 44 controls the angular position of the shaft 40, and when the detector mechanism is supported on the web B as it passes through the press the mercury switch, to be subsequently detailed, will close the circuit for operating the press. It the web breaks, the detector mechanism will not be supported by the web and will be permitted to turn the shaft 0 for the purpose of throwing the mercury switch open and thus breaking the circuit in order to stop the press.

The web break detector mechanism 44 comprises a support 60 which is of box-shape formation, comprising a U-shaped channel and a table or platform therefor which embraces the shaft 4!! and is slidable therealong. This supporting case 60 is adapted to position the detector arm and shoe at definite locations along the shaft, where the margins 26, 21 and 28 of the web occur; the position of the detector mechanism at these folds being governed entirely by the width of the web traveling through the press. In order to hold the position of the detector on the shaft 40, the case 60 is provided with detent ballsGI and G2 spring urged at 83 into position so that they will drop into the detent recesses 64 provided in the under-surface of the shaft 40 at the desired locations aforesaid.

On the supporting case the detector arm and shoe construction of the mechanism 40 is mounted for a compound movement in order to position the detector arm at either side of the horizontal axis of the shaft 40, in a horizontal or vertically inclined position.

The detector construction includes the arm II! which is attached in a manner to be subsequently described to a hub II so that it may be moved into horizontal position or inclined at an angle. The hub construction II, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6 of the drawings, is flanged at its ends and provided with a passageway I2 therethrough, thru which a pivot pin I3 is disposed; the latter mounting the hub in the channelshaped casing I4 which is pivoted at I5 upon a vertical axis on the top plate of the detector mounting casing 60 above described. The hub construction II has a radial extension arm or stub I8, and it is upon the outer end of this that the arm I0 is pivoted at I9, shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. Short springs 80, under compression hold the arm III in balance upon the stub arm I8 of the hub; these springs 89 being located at each side of the shaft I9, and permitting very limited tipping movement of the arm 10 upon the pivot pin I9 to account for slight irregularities in the surfacing of the web as it passes through the press.

The arm ID at its outer end has a detector shoe pivoted thereon at 86. The pivoting movement of this shoe 85 is free, and it is provided with a convex surface which contacts the web B, as shown in Figure 2.

In order that the position of the arm 10 may be held horizontal or inclined, in any of the various positions shown in Figure 2, depending upon the position of web travel, one flange of the channel-shaped casing I4 supporting the hub of the arm is apertured at 81 and therein is disposed a detent ball 88 which operates in any of a series of depressions 89 centered in an arc about the axis of horizontal movement of the shaft, as is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. A spring is held in position by the bolt I3 against the ball 88 in order that it may be yieldably urged against the end face of the hub II, as will be obvious from Figure 4 of the drawings.

As above mentioned, the entire detent arm construction and casing I4 is mounted on the slide case 60 for movement about a vertical axis. This vertical axis is defined by the pivot pin I5 mounted on the top plate of the case 60 and extended through the base of the casing 14, as shown in Figure 4. Thus, the detent arm III may be swung on a vertical axis together with its case I4 to position the detector arm at either side of the shaft 40. In order to hold the position of the detector arm at the desired side of the shaft 40 detent balls 9'! are positioned in openings of the base 95 of the detector arm hub case I4 operating in depressions I00 formed in the top surface of the plate of the case 59, as shown in Figure 6. A spring IIII held in position by the pin or bolt I5 urges the detents 91 into position. From this it is apparent that the detector arm construction is universally mounted. and provided with detent means so that it may be swung to either side of the longitudinal axis of the shaft 40; either in the full line position shown in Figure 2, or in the right hand dotted position, depending upon the horizontal travel of the web 13.

Referring to the mercury switch and bearing construction 4|, the same is best detailed in Figures l and 8 to 11 of the drawings, and includes a box-shaped casing Hi1, having a rear wall III which may be bolted at Hi to the frame 40 at one side of the press. This casing III! has top, bottom, and side walls, and a detachable end plate H3 facing the shaft 40.

The shaft 49 is supported by an anti-friction bearing I I5 in the end wall I I I of the casing III], as is shown in Figure '7 of the drawings. This anti-friction bearing is supported in a hub II'I fixed on the inner surface of the wall I I I. Keyed on the shaft 40 is a pin supporting hub I29 which has a detachable pin I2I therein positioned in facing relation with the wall III for moving the mercury switch I30 into circuit making or breaking positions. A segmental movement limiting member I32 is supported at I33 upon the Wall I I I of the switch case around the anti-friction hub III having the upper portion thereof removed so that the extension of the pin I2I may travel back and forth through a limited arc; the end of the pin I2I engaging against the ends of the segment I32 in order to limit the angular travel of the shaft 40. When the pin I2I engages either end of the segment I32, as shown in the full and dotted lines in Figure 9, the switch I30 will be in circuit breaking position. Of course, as shown in Figure 8, when the pin is uppermost midway between the end surfaces of the segment I32 the switch will be held in circuit making position.

The mercury switch includes a bulb I50 in which the mercury is contained. Contacts I5I and I52 are disposed in the bulb having wires I53 extending therefrom and leading through the switch casing and in circuit with the press operating motor. The bulb I59 is mounted in a channelshaped casing I55, for endwise removal; the casing I55 being pivoted at I56 on the housing IIU, so that movement of the pin IZI will throw the casing I55 upwardly or downwardly for making and breaking a circuit, as shown in the various positions indicated in Figures 8 and 9.

The bearing construction 42 at the opposite end of the shaft 40 includes a bearing hub I60 secured at IBI to the frame 30 of the machine and supporting an anti-friction bearing I53 for the shaft 40, as shown in Figure 13.

A switch control member is provided for regulating the position of the shaft 40 and holding it in switch closing position, such as is necessary during re-threading of the press. This member comprises a circular plate or ring I'IO pivoted on the hub extension of the bearing support I60, and having an arcuate slot I'II therein struck fromthe axis of the shaft 40 as a center. A bolt H2 attached in the shaft support I60 holds the member ill! in position; said bolt 112 extending into the slot I'M.- The plate I10 has transverse pins H5 thereon adapted to cooperate with a radial extending pin I76 on the shaft 40 holding and movement limiting the position of the shaft At. A detent ball ill is mounted on the shaft support iEib, adapted to cooperate in any of a series of depressions lid, shown in Figure 16, provided. on the outer face of the movement limiting member lit. A spring 180 urges the plate l'iii into position so that the detent ball Ill will hold the position of the plate HQ.

The latter is provided with a radially extending handle l8l.

In the position of the member H0 shown in Figure 12 the pin H6 may move between the two pins I15 of the member Ill) when the detector arm is in the dotted position shown in Figure 2 for horizontal travel of the web. The position of Figure 12 shows the shaft 40 in place ment for a closing of the circuit through the mercury switch, and the position in Figure 14 shows the shaft 49 in position for the opening of the mercury switch and the breaking of the circuit through the controlling motor of the press. Should the travel of the web be in the direction shown in Figure 2, with the detector arm in the full line position therein shown, the operator llll through the handle 18! would move the member I a quarter turn to the left which would position the pins H5 properly.

When it is desired to re-thread the web in the press the mercury switch must be held with the circuit open. To that end the operator through the handle l8! throws the member ITO into the position shown in Figure 15, and through the pins I15 the position of the shaft pin I16 will be limited to a movement where the mercury switch is always open and the circuit through the motor broken.

An auxiliary switch control member 200, shown in Figures 8 and 9 is pivoted at 20! on the case H0 and may be moved to hold the switch [39 in closed position at all times independent of movement of the shaft Ml.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention shown and described, without departing from. the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a stop motion mechanism for printing presses and the like wherein a web of material is adapted to travel in opposite directions the combination of a detector finger, and means associated with the detector finger for control of movement of a web of material, and including a member having a given operating position, said member being movable in opposite directions from said given operating position toward spacedapart non-operating positions, said detector finger being reversible so as to co-act with said web of material when the same is moving in either direction and normally holding said member in its operating position, whereby upon the occurrence of a defect in said web, said member will be moved to one or the other of said non-operating positions dependent on the setting of said reversible finger.

2. In a printing press adapted to support a web of paper for travel in opposite directions, a movable detector finger, means associated with the detector finger for controlling movement of the web, and including a member having a'given operating position, said member being movable in opposite directions from said given operating position toward spaced-apart non-operating positions, said detector finger being reversible so as to co-act with said web of material when the same is moving in either direction and normally holding said member in its operating position, whereby upon the occurrence of a defect in said web, said member will be moved teens or the other of said non-operating positions dependent on the setting of said reversible finger, and means limiting movement of said member between said given operating position and a selected one of said non-operating positions to correspond with the setting of said reversible finger.

3. In a stop motion mechanism for printing presses wherein a web of paper is adapted to travel thru the press in any of a plurality' of different positions and directions and wherein the web may comprise a plurality of printed sheets transversely across the web With defined margins therebetween, a detector member, means associated with the detector member for stopping the movement of the web upon break of the web, universal joint means mounting the detector member for movement to any of a plurality of positions in accordance with the position of travel and direction of travel of the web, and detent means associated with said universal joint means for holding the detector member in a selected position.

4. In a stop motion mechanism for printing presses wherein a web of paper is adapted to travel thru the press in any of a plurality of different positions and directions and wherein the web may comprise a plurality of printed sheets transversely across the web with defined margins therebetween, a detector member, means associated with the detector member for stopping the movement of the web upon break of the web, universal joint means mounting the detector member for movement to any of a plurality of positions in accordance with the position of travel and direction of travel of the web, means mounting the detector member for bodily movement transversely of the web to any of a plurality of margins between adjacent pages printed on the Web, and detent means associated with said universal joint means and said means mounting the detector member for bodily movement, for holding the detector member in a selected position.

5. In a stop motion mechanism for printing presses wherein a web is adapted to travel in one direction or the other longitudinally thereof and which web may comprise a plurality of different sections transversely thereacross, a detector member, a circuit controlled by the detector member, universal joint means mounting said detector member for movement to any of a plurality of positions in accordance with the direction of travel of the web, means mounting the detector member for bodily movement transversely across the web to position it in accordance with the number and relation, of the sections printed on the web, and releasable detent means associated with each of said mounting means for holding the detector member in a selected position.

6. In a detector construction for stop motion mechanism the combination of a support, a detector arm, a hub pivoted on said support, releasable detent means fixing said hub in pivotally adjusted relation to said support, means connecting the arm upon said hub for limited movement thereon and compensating spring means acting between the arm and hub to normally position the arm between the limits of said movement and tending to neutralize the efiects of irregularities in the web of the machine with which the stop motion mechanism is associated.

'7. In a detector mechanism for stop motion mechanism the combination of a tiltable supporting shaft, a support slidable along the shaft, a member pivoted on said support on an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft, detent means associated with said member and said support, a de- 15 tector arm pivoted upon said member on an axis transverse to the pivot axis of said member, and detent means associated with said arm and said member.

8. In a stop motion mechanism for detecting breaks and ruptures in a web of material the combination of a detector member, universal joint means mounting the detector member for movement to any of a plurality of difierent positions in accordance with the direction and angular travel of the Web, detent means associated with the universal joint means for holding the detector member in a selected position, and means mounting said universal joint means for bodily movement transversely of the web.

ROSS L. SMITH. 

